In 2015, my mother, Eiko, lost her younger sister Akiko to cancer. Akiko’s final wish was not to be interred in the family plot in Hasami, refusing to rest eternally beside her abusers—her siblings and other family members. To honor her sister's wish, Eiko keeps Akiko’s ashes close, still seeking a peaceful place for her to rest.
Hasami (Scissors) unfolds through a rich tapestry of dreamlike reenactments and intimate interviews, capturing a daughter’s quest to understand their mother and support her journey toward healing from an abusive past.
This short, experimental documentary explores intergenerational trauma, healing, domestic violence, the complex bond between mother and daughter, Japanese-American identity, and the heartache of moving forward after profound loss. The film weaves together performances by Butoh dancers and Eiko herself, transforming memory into movement and emotion into catharsis.
Through a tapestry of dreamlike reenactments of memories interwoven with personal interviews, this experimental hybrid documentary film captures a daughter's attempt to understand their mother and to aid in her journey to heal from an abusive childhood.